Along with helping patients better understand the array of different strains to choose from in this educational series, Illinois News Joint wants to inform our readers of other aspects of growing medicine at home as well. As such, John Grow #9 is back with his homemade RSO, or more accurately described as Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO).

FECO and RSO are similar extracts made from raw cannabis. The extracts contain a potent concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes and are dark, thick, and sticky. The difference in the FECO and RSO is how the extracts are made. FECO is basically derived from ethanol or grain alcohol. RSO is extracted from isopropyl alcohol.

Most home growers create FECO with the safer-to-ingest grain alcohol. John Grow #9 derived his FECO from trim leftover from several different strains using Everclear. He strained the trim two times, once through the strainer and then again with a paper towel.

Once strained, he placed the extract into a crockpot until it was just about done then transferred it into a glass dish and finished cooking out the Everclear at 225 degrees. He then placed the extract into syringes for better handling. Occasionally, to keep the oil from harden up, he had to set the oil back in the oven to help manipulate it into a syringe.

By using the leftover plant waste, John Grow #9 is trying to get every medical use possible out of his plants, and he is creating extremely expensive medicine at a fraction of the price he would pay at an Illinois dispensary. For most Illinois patients, the extract uses up so much of the patient’s limits on how much cannabis can purchase in a month that the patient quickly runs into the purchase limit.

FECO is one of the most potent cannabis extracts and can be used to make edibles or eat straight out of the syringe. Usually, only small amounts of the extract are needed. Most patients place drops of the extract from the syringe on a piece of fruit or a cookie or something to take away the distinct cannabis oil taste that also has a familiar cannabis flavor. I prefer to place a long turd of the extract on ice cream or something from the freezer because it hardens the extract to make it easier for me to eat and keeps it from sticking to my teeth.

Because we know the quality of flower John Grow #9 harvest from his The Spice flower review, this batch of FECO was bound to be powerful with heavy effects. With quality FECO, I find the first half of the buzz to be energetic, and though the head high is heavy, patients are able to function. A heavy body buzz builds slowly until it reaches a crescendo a couple hours into the buzz. Once the extremely heavy body buzz hits full strength, it takes over the overall effects, and the buzz becomes heavier and sedation settles in the mind and body.

FECO is the best way for me to relieve severe muscle cramps and pain. I usually medicate with a high dose when I know I am going to have muscle soreness from physical labor. Other patients prefer small doses throughout the day. Others use it strictly for to make edibles. Again, with cannabis, it’s almost always a preference thing. The overall buzz lasts up to four-to-six hours.

Eventually, the extract delivers a night of heavy sleep and muscle relaxation. These are the types of sleep where I wake up several hours later in the exact same position as I fell asleep. Overall, John Grow #9 continues to impress with his homegrown medicine, and proves with enough practice and care, patients can create for themselves something as good as or better than a dispensary.

The patient requested this information be released: John Grow #9 and his grow journaling can be found at @kush_terps5 and @kush_terps_. John Grow #9 grows in recycled organic soil with the theory that “less is more” when growing. “The less I do to my plants, the more I get outta my buds,” he said.

For more educational information on strains from our Medical Patient Homegrown Review series, click here.

FDA Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.

Effects & Medical Attributes are based on anecdotal evidence. Individual experiences can be varied.